Allright Guys,
Pay attention for a minute and let me tell you a story. I’m a retired Marine with 28 years of service. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2021. How did I get to this point? Glad you asked. On my annual checkup in September 2020 with my GP (regular Doctor), I mentioned that I was getting up excessively at night to pee (clinical name is “nocturia”). He referred me to a urologist. My PSA levels are now, and always have been (2.2, actually) below the magic number of “4”, which is considered “high” and worthy of a more detailed investigation. So my GP wasn’t that concerned. I waited 3 months to make the appointment with the urologist. At my appointment, the urologist immediately found (1) an infection, and (2) a “nodule” (urology-speak for a lump). The nodule “could” be attributed to the infection- or not. Antibiotics cured the infection in 3 months (yes, it takes that long!), and the lump was still there. A biopsy a month after that confirmed the diagnosis- prostate cancer. My wife of 36 years and I went into research mode, looked at all the options and decided on surgical removal of my prostate (called a radical prostatectomy). I had that done in July. I’m doing great, the surgery does have some peculiar side effects, etc, (anyone who has had, or is contemplating the same surgery, get in touch with me and we’ll talk if you want). My point of all this is- DON’T RELY ON YOUR PSA SCORE ALONE AND THINK YOU’RE GOOD TO GO! That is only ONE indicator. If you think you have an issue, or someone who you love (or loves you!) thinks you have an issue- GO GET IT CHECKED OUT! My cancer was a “particularly aggressive strain” and had I not treated it in some manner, it likely would have spread. With “who knows what” kind of results. And we have our two children, their spouses and SIX grandkids to think about. Thank you if you read this entire post- enough already… end of rant. ColRhino, out.
Pay attention for a minute and let me tell you a story. I’m a retired Marine with 28 years of service. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2021. How did I get to this point? Glad you asked. On my annual checkup in September 2020 with my GP (regular Doctor), I mentioned that I was getting up excessively at night to pee (clinical name is “nocturia”). He referred me to a urologist. My PSA levels are now, and always have been (2.2, actually) below the magic number of “4”, which is considered “high” and worthy of a more detailed investigation. So my GP wasn’t that concerned. I waited 3 months to make the appointment with the urologist. At my appointment, the urologist immediately found (1) an infection, and (2) a “nodule” (urology-speak for a lump). The nodule “could” be attributed to the infection- or not. Antibiotics cured the infection in 3 months (yes, it takes that long!), and the lump was still there. A biopsy a month after that confirmed the diagnosis- prostate cancer. My wife of 36 years and I went into research mode, looked at all the options and decided on surgical removal of my prostate (called a radical prostatectomy). I had that done in July. I’m doing great, the surgery does have some peculiar side effects, etc, (anyone who has had, or is contemplating the same surgery, get in touch with me and we’ll talk if you want). My point of all this is- DON’T RELY ON YOUR PSA SCORE ALONE AND THINK YOU’RE GOOD TO GO! That is only ONE indicator. If you think you have an issue, or someone who you love (or loves you!) thinks you have an issue- GO GET IT CHECKED OUT! My cancer was a “particularly aggressive strain” and had I not treated it in some manner, it likely would have spread. With “who knows what” kind of results. And we have our two children, their spouses and SIX grandkids to think about. Thank you if you read this entire post- enough already… end of rant. ColRhino, out.
